Year 11 Course: Reading to Write (New Syllabus)

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Reading to Write is the new compulsory Stage 6 Syllabus Module for all Year 11 Standard and Advanced English students. In this course students learn and polish essential skills – reading complex, quality texts and writing in response to them. After an introduction to the Syllabus close reading skills are combined with detailed practice in writing. The texts studied include selections from novels, drama and poetry – the kinds of texts compulsory for study in Year 12. The selections include Australian ballads, novels for young adults, classic fiction, modern drama, and graphic novels. Other texts include an essential range into critical essays and journalism. This intensive two-day course is interesting, involving and rewarding. An extensive Course Booklet and interactive teaching and learning provide a high level of understanding of the key issues of style, meaning, context and values. The course provides high quality training for Year 11 English as a basis for confident transition to Year 12.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

Undertake close reading of quality texts including prose fiction, drama and poetry.

Analyse and evaluate textual complexity.

Respond to texts with critical and imaginative writing.

Apply critical thinking to texts, identity and the world.

Increase pleasure in reading quality texts.

Apply critical analysis, interpretation and evaluation in relation to the style and form of texts.

Increase basic writing skills and achieve a distinctive as well as more complex personal voice for a range of purposes.

Content

(Aligned to NESA Syllabus Reference Points)

EA/EN11 1, 2, 9. Reading and writing complex texts with critical analysis, evaluation and pleasure: The introduction, begins with group discussion about the nature of literature and communication.

EA/EN11 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9. Analysing textual style and form in relation to meaning, audiences and context and applying this knowledge in writing; evaluating personal and public identity and cultural assumptions. This section includes the Australian National Anthem, Australian ballads and selections from Watkin Tench’s classic 1788, a journal from the period about the beginning of New South Wales. A key issue is pleasure in reading texts as well as critical and imaginative responses that include history, identity and values.

EA/EN11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Reading selections from novels for young adults and writing imaginative and critical, analytic responses. This section extends analysis about identity and cultural assumptions. The main focus is on selections from J.G.Burke’s The Story of Tom Brennan.

EA/EN11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Reading a range of writing from essays and journalism to selections from a picture book – responding with critical analysis and writing. The key texts include selections from The New Yorker and Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing.

EA/EN11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Reading Australian poetry and responding with critical, analytic writing about it in relation to style, meaning, context and values and other texts. The text for study is Bruce Dawe’s Life Cycle about Melbourne football.

EA/EN11 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Reading and writing about complex Australian fiction with a focus on society and culture, including gender and Aboriginal identity, and making connections with other texts. The text for study is Craig Silvey’s Jasper Jones.

Intended Audience

This course is suitable for Year 11 students studying Standard and Advanced English. It is also suitable for some Year 10 students who are advanced in their studies.

Delivery Style

The course is delivered by teacher presentation; reading and writing by students in relation to the Course Booklet and close study of the text selections; interactive discussion; and teacher reading and comment on student writing. Students should be prepared for reading, writing and interactive learning.

Materials

Students will be provided with:

A Course Booklet with the Syllabus, comment on general issues, and extensive guides to close reading of the texts.

A second Course Booklet with all the selections from the texts.

Course Evaluation

This course will be evaluated via an online student questionnaire delivered in class.

Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide

While you progress through this journey and also the conclusion of your schooling life, we know you’ll have a lot on your mind – exams, future study, careers – but remember, while keeping focused on these bigger goals and aspirations, it’s also important not to forget your own health and well-being.